Archive for the ‘Residential’ Category

The practice of orienting a home to the path of the sun is as old as civilization itself, and in nature, significantly predates it. Just as plants and flowers orient themselves to the sun through phototaxis, the newest building designed by ODA New York, appears to be doing the same.

King Street West is set in a transitional area of Toronto. From the tall towers of the Central Business District to the East, to the low-rise neighborhoods in the Northwest, the skyline is a mark of the city’s progress. Located at the meeting point of three 20th century neighborhood parks, BIG and Westbank propose a mixed use development with a public plaza that will create a new center for the community while connecting the various pedestrian pathways that crisscross the area.

The shape of the lot is short in north and south and stretches long in west and east. The lot is adjacent to a historic site on the east side.Also, the lot is located in a school zone. Lying within a residential area, there are a number of elementary, junior high and high schools as well as a city hall.The historical site is now developed into a peaceful park in which local residents gather and relax.Therefore, the east side of the lot is the most beautiful part of the residential area. People can enjoy the nature and the open sky.The site is designated as the Cultural Properties Protection Area. Excavation is required when developing the surrounding area that includes the lot. We are restricted in our building plan that we are only allowed to excavate 30cm from the surface as some pieces of kawara (roof tiles) from the Nara period (about 1300 years ago) were discovered through the pre-construction investigation.The building is completely closed on the west side facing the street and on the north side which is a vacant lot.

The lot is located at the end of a “Landscape Development Emphasis District,” which spreads along the main road running East to West through the urban center of Fukui City. The lot faces a street with two lanes each direction heading towards the mountains such as the Hakusan Mountain Range and Kunimi Pass. All infrastructure lines are placed underground to maintain a fitting landscape. Houses along the street mostly have gabled roofs and are lined with eaves facing the street. Some “voids” are maintained as parking lots or front gardens, and a few of the buildings have flat roofs. This lot has been used as a parking lot, which was part of a “line of open lots (continuous voids),” and had functioned as the open space where light, air and gaze went through for the surrounding area.

The project is part of a plan to revitalise a former industrial site, “the Conterie” ( small beads), on the island of Murano. Also known as the island of glass, Murano forms part of the Venetian lagoon. The Conterie were a two-hectare-wide industrial complex located in the heart of Murano. Brought into being between the end of the 18th century and the first half of 19th century, the Conterie’s zenith dates to the second half of the 19th century, when the complex achieved its maximum industrial output. Decline, on the other hand, kicked in in the 1970s, and the factory was finally closed down in 1993. Two years later the complex was acquired by the Municipality of Venice. This decision was taken because the former industrial site was deemed to offer significant urban development opportunities on account of its extent, location and the variety of building which makes it up. Many of the latter, it must be added, were in a particularly poor state of conservation.

Breeze is a boutique waterfront apartment development located in Drummoyne next to Peppercorn Park. It contains 11 units, a marina, pool and basement parking. The site enjoys panoramic views to the harbour and city. The 5 storey building contains 2 units per floor which are focussed toward the waterfront views.

Umaid Heritage Elevation controls require the use of local Jodhpur stone to be expressed as the primary building material.

Design Atelier worked out various elements for stone construction, for expression in screens, blocks and flutes to build a contemporary form that responds to the high sun and which gives the form an unusual presence in light. Natural stone preserves the unique local character, adds to the aesthetic appeal of stability, grandeur and continuity of style in the construction. Not only is local stone sustainable, its versatility of use, enduring life cycle, low maintenance and 100% recyclable qualities qualify it as a useful green material.

Ile Seguin-Rives de Seine: a major urban renewal project in the heart of Greater Paris, spread over 74 hectares on the site of the former Renault factories, including the Ile Seguin. At the heart of one of these 3 sectors, the “Trapeze”, sits Macro-lot A5, comprising a secondary school, due to be delivered in 2018 – block A – and 110 apartments along its southern edge – block B. This block comprises 110 flats for social housing on top of a 2-level underground car park.

“How can we create an alternate living environment for a harsh cold climate? Is it possible to create a residential tower that is closed for warmth but open for views and sunlight?”

The project is located in front of Zhongshan Park in Shenyang, China; where the temperature drops to -11°C in winters. The design catches the maximum amount of natural sunlight while providing a large thermal mass for insulation. The result is a living zigzag facade with winter gardens acting as a buffer zone for cold winters and creating an internalized view.